Four-component one-pot synthesis of unsymmetrical polyhydroquinoline derivatives using 3-methyl-1-sulfonic acid imidazolium hydrogen sulfate as a catalyst

3-Methyl-1-sulfonic acid imidazolium hydrogen sulfate has been used as an efficient, halogen-free, and reusable Brönsted acidic ionic liquid catalyst for the synthesis of ethyl-4-aryl/heteryl-hexahydro-trimehtyl-5-oxoquinoline-3-carboxylates via the one-pot condensation of dimedone with aryl/heteryl aldehydes, ethyl acetoacetate, and ammonium acetate under solvent-free conditions. This method has the advantage of being clean and simple, as well as providing the desired product in high yield over a short reaction time. Furthermore, the catalyst could be recycled and reused four times without any discernible reduction in activity.